Surface modification of elastomers via encapsulated glass (SiO2)

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11833769-B2
Application number	US-202017013708-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 7, 2020
Priority date	Sep 26, 2019
Publication date	Dec 5, 2023
Grant date	Dec 5, 2023

Abstract

A composite is provided to include an elastomer substrate comprising methyl groups. The composite may also include a layer of glass comprising SiO 2 formed over the elastomer substrate. A method of fabricating the composite is provided. The method may include diffusing an ozone-rich gas into the substrate of an elastomer substrate comprising methyl groups. The method may also include exposing the elastomer substrate to UV radiation for a period of time. The method may further include converting a surface portion of the elastomer substrate into a layer of glass formed over the elastomer substrate.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A composite comprising:
an elastomer substrate;
a layer of glass comprising SiO 2 formed over the elastomer substrate and cross-linked to the elastomer substrate by siloxane bonds; and
an elastic polymer coating disposed on the layer of glass,
wherein the composite can be stretched to 80% without cracking.

2. The composite of claim 1 , the elastomer substrate is a silicone-based polymer.

3. The composite of claim 1 , wherein the layer of glass has a thickness from 1 μm to 7 μm.

4. The composite of claim 1 , wherein the composite has a coefficient of friction (COF) lower than the COF of the elastomer substrate without the layer of glass.

5. The composite of claim 1 , wherein the composite has a modulus higher than the modulus of the elastomer substrate without the layer of glass.

6. The composite of claim 1 , wherein the composite has an oil diffusion slower than the oil diffusion of the elastomer substrate without the layer of glass.

7. A wearable device formed of the composite of claim 1 .

8. A method of fabricating a composite of claim 1 , the method comprising:
diffusing an ozone-rich gas into an elastomer substrate comprising methyl groups;
exposing the elastomer substrate to UV radiation for a period of time; and
converting a surface portion of the elastomer substrate into a layer of glass formed over the elastomer substrate and cross-linked to the elastomer substrate by siloxane bonds; and
disposing an elastic polymer coating on the layer of glass to form the composite;
wherein the composite can be stretched to 80% without cracking.

9. The method of claim 8 , the elastomer substrate is a silicone-based polymer.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the layer of glass has a thickness from 1 μm to 6 μm.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the composite has a COF lower than the elastomer substrate without the layer of glass.

12. The method of claim 8 , wherein the composite has a modulus higher than the modulus of the elastomer substrate without the layer of glass.

13. The method of claim 8 , wherein the composite has an oil diffusion slower than the oil diffusion of the elastomer substrate without the layer of glass.

14. The method of claim 8 , wherein the UV radiation comprises a wavelength ranging from 168 nm to 176 nm.

15. The method of claim 8 , wherein the UV radiation comprises a wavelength ranging from 250 nm to 258 nm.

16. The method of claim 8 , wherein the distance from a source of UV radiation to the elastomer substrate is from 1 mm to 7 mm.

17. The method of claim 8 , wherein the period of time is at least 0.5 minutes.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Slabaugh Scott W
• Lyandres Liliya
• Taylor Warren

Classifications

• B29C71/0063 Primary

  for changing crystallisation · CPC title

• B29C71/04

  by wave energy or particle radiation {, e.g. for curing or vulcanising preformed articles (during moulding, e.g. in a mould B29C35/08)} · CPC title

• B32B17/10 Primary

  of synthetic resin · CPC title

• B29C59/16 Primary

  by wave energy or particle radiation {, e.g. infrared heating (B29C59/007 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• B32B33/00

  Layered products characterised by particular properties or particular surface features, e.g. particular surface coatings; Layered products designed for particular purposes not covered by another single class · CPC title